Bebe Cannelle Blog

An appendix of the official Hot News Blog on BebeCannelle.com

Wee Notions Nappies Made In UK

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After my successful order with JabulaNappies.co.uk, I was so thrilled by Wee Notions nappies that I bought some on WeeNotions website directly one week after. I said bought but I should say "designed"! Yes you can create your own nappy according to your choice of fabric, your favourite colours and the cherry on the pie: the embroidery of your choice! They are made by Working At Home Mothers in UK. I absolutely love Wee Notions cloth nappies and I'm wondering how you can use disposables when such funky, rocking and cute nappies are available. Yes they're pricey at first but believe me you will soon enjoy not having to spend £10 or more every week on plastic nappies. Did I mention they are good for showing off your baby's bottom ;-)

Sleepy Nico Soft Structured Carrier in Thailand

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You may not see it's Thailand on the photo but look more closely at the yellow plastic curtain which is behind my best friend to see some Thai letters. The point is: your Sleepy Nico baby carrier is your best asset on holidays!

My best friend kindly allowed me to use this photo and she said she couldn't live without her Sleepy Nico. Her son is nearly 3 years old. A Sleepy Nico soft structured carrier is lightweight (500g), 100% cotton, hand made in UK and super easy to use. Sleepy Nico is the staple of any babywearing stash, in my humble opinion.

Happy Babywearing!

x

I wish I had 4 hands

I sometimes feel I don't have what it takes to take care of 2 kids. Yesterday I had to leave (grumpy) Simon alone on the bed to be able to bend over the bath and wash Rachel's hair. He cried so much he was still shaking after I picked him up again. While it is not true that he's crying all the time, it certainly feels like it is. We had a few weeks of paradise feeling, between his first cold and the bronchilitis. But now teething is ruining everything and he is so gassy! I cannot sleep much during the night so it is hard to stay patient and calm with DD. I have to nearly scream to read stories to her sometimes (to cover the crying noise). Babywearing helps as he falls asleep on my back after some crying but it makes me so sad to hear him cry. I hear you saying "Why cannot she breastfeed him?" If it was that simple, I'll be so grateful. But he cannot latch on for some reason. He gets even more frustrated with nipple in his mouth but cannot latch on. Argh! usually I have to walk around the house with him in the carrier to settle him and then he feeds. But this is not always possible as DD needs me too.

I remember a nice mother at LLL who said her second baby was a "dream baby". I thought my baby would be the same as I am far less stressed than with DD.

I don't want DD to resent her baby brother so I don't know how to explain to her than I cannot read that book right now and dance with her now. She is so sweet and gentle and I don't want to loose my temper with her but it is challenging to try understand her when DS is crying at full volume and I haven't been able to do anything for my (basic) needs since the morning.

To make things worse I read in a book written by a psychotherapist all the things parents say/do which can damage a child confidence and it didn't help my guilty feeling.

But this morning I read "The thing about winter" by Brits in Bosnia and I got this nice feeling of not being alone in this motherhood struggle thing. Feeling better now. But I think cannot understand how mothers of 6 kids do.

Sleeping time or scooter time?

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Simon was up half of the night, couldn't latch on and was kicking his legs. This morning he slept while Rachel (photo above) while I made chocolate cake. But just as I was thinking "It's already past midday and we haven't been outside all day, we must do some scooter", he fell asleep on my back (in the wrap). With one baby, you can easily accommodate your schedule around baby's naps. But how am I supposed to do with two kids? Eventually I let him sleep because it's so hard to get him to sleep properly these days and we went outside at 3pm just before night.

PS: Yep, you saw that right, no baby bed in the house, just a huge family bed. A baby sleeping safely surrounded by his mother's warmth and love means a confident and happy child later on. Of course my big girl has her own bed (she's 3). The family bed is only for babies in our family.

I am a survivor or Message of Hope for Parents of Premature Babies

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Words are still stuck in my throat and for some reason I haven't been able to write Simon's birth story yet. However I wanted to send a message of hope to all mamas of babies born too soon.

Simon is a survivor. When we came home from the hospital (or should I said hell?) he weighed under 2kg and was looking like a small bird, light as a feather with a head so small it looked like a tennis ball. I had a hard time to change his nappy: his legs were always crossed and he had no bottom at all, just folds of skin. I was afraid to hurt him.

But against the midwives prediction, he regained his birth weight (2.12 kg) in one week instead of three. I pumped my milk and fed it to him with a syringe at first. I would usually pump the foremilk, give it to Rachel then pump again to get some creamy hindmilk for Simon. I never used a teat to avoid nipple confusion. I fight with hospital staff to have him with me at night (this was quite tricky). I didn't give in to fear when midwives told me he would get brain damage if I didn't give him formula (because you see, they couldn't guess how many mL he was taking at the breast...).

He is now so big he is wearing size 9 months at only 4 months! His legs are rolls of fat and he is happy and healthy and weighed 6 kg last time I checked.

As a dear customer/friend said to me, all he needed was lots of sling time, breastmilk and love. So hand in there if you have a tiny bundle of love and know breastfeeding a premature baby can be done with lots of willpower, confidence and love.

All I Need This Winter Part 1

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You've asked about my fav products for cold weather. Here are the first two: a sheepskin (to sleep, as a changing mat, for baby massage, etc...) and a merino wool thin balaclava for babies. I recommend this sheepskin (you need to understand French though; alternatively use Google Translator or ask me) and of course this Nelson hat as I'm using LanaCare balaclavas since my first baby was born (and was so happy the range comes in premature size for my second baby).


Next post is my third and most recommended product... stay tuned!

My Nappy Change Routine

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Simple, organic and gorgeous smelling. I used Mambino Organics baby oil to clean the nappy area at each nappy change. If there is poo, I use Weleda baby lotion. Then, I apply nappy cream, especially in the folds and bottom. I love little bottoms oitment; it is made with apricot and coconut: delicious! 

Why Mambino Organics? All of the raw ingredients come from highly reputable suppliers, all providing the highest quality ingredients on the market today. Each ingredient is screened, analyzed and sampled to insure purity and quality. Most of the ingredients are organic or wild harvested, cold pressed or expelled pressed to preserve nutrients and effectiveness. Mambino Organics never use refined oils that are solvent-extracted.

As for Weleda, this is an old skin care brand I grew up with. They have pure organic ingredients and I cannot recommend their baby range enough. Weleda is available at the much recommended online beauty store LoveLula.com.

Review: Organic Merino Wool and Silk Baby Body

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As freezing weather is coming and Simon hasn't got rid of his cold yet, I bought an Organic Merino Wool & Silk Baby Body at Love To Be Natural. I love the kimono style which I find offer better neck coverage than the usual envelope neck. Although kimono style means there is nothing to put over baby's head. I love the fabric of wool and 30% silk. I grew up wearing this kind of underwear and have always used wool/silk vests for Rachel too: it is not bulky and is very good to prevent colds in winter.

Love To Be Natural is a cool website run by a mother so I encourage you to pay Colin a visit!

Business ethics

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The Bebe Cannelle store is stocking a lot of brands and the human beings behind them are very different in each case. But one thing is common to all of them: they have honest, clear and fair business ethics.

As you know I decided from the start to offer to my customers only the products I am personally using and love. But the product is not enough. I recently found a new product which I tested and liked quite well but have decided not to place a wholesale order for the Bebe Cannelle store. The reason? Unfair business practice, non-friendly communication and unclear terms which also rise doubts about the product as a result. Because I am prioritizing eco-friendly products, I need to be sure they are genuine and green. I won't name the company because I believe negativity brings negativity.

So I am even more proud of my current suppliers. Most of the products are conceived by mothers, who observe fair and honest trade practices. The products are handmade very often, or come from small and family businesses.

There is a great human being behind each Bebe Cannelle brands with a lot of stories! Did you know that...
Kathy from Cosytots Organics is proud to have her mother on board as she is suffering from MS and knitting helps her stay active and useful?
That Mandy from Lait d'Amour is sometimes finishing your nursing necklaces orders at 1am in the morning while her children are already asleep?
That Justina from Mamababybliss is not only a skin care expert but also a yoga teacher and baby massage instructor?
That Kristi from Wrapsody baby carriers has recently married her soul mate after raising her 3 children as a single mother?
That Louise from Believe You Can has recently given birth to an adorable baby girl?
That Jeanette who founded LanaCare wool layette is also a nurse?
That the mothers who designed Sleepy Nico buckle carriers are both named Maria with sons both named Nikolai?

I am blessed to be working with such great people. A big thank you to all my (carefully selected) suppliers!

PS: the mother on the photo above is one of my favourite person to work with: Kristi from Wrapsody baby carriers. She is demonstrating here that you can carry a child on your back even in a (hybrid) stretch wrap.

I lost my temper today

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I am not proud of saying "Stupid b****!" to that woman but seriously she had it coming. Let's rewind a little bit.

I was waiting at the bus stop when that woman came and put her face (uninvited) close to my baby. I hate when people do that. I took a step back. Then she said that my baby is very small and I shouldn't be outside because it's very cold. What? I told her my baby was none of her business, that I had to eat as well (I had done some grocery shopping) and that as I had no help I couldn't stay shut indoors. I should have said if I wanted to wait until the sun comes out, I would be stuck inside until April. I mean, this is UK! Yes it's cold and rainy! When she told me to shut up, "Stupid b****!" came out of my mouth. Cursing in English? It's a sign I'm getting English-er by the day because I didn't have time to think too much beforehand. Soon I will be dreaming in English too...

Anyway, my point is you never ever tell a mother how to take care of her baby. I am selling baby carriers, babywearing is my passion and I believe with all my heart that it is extremely beneficial for both mother and baby. But will I come to those ladies who put their newborns in a buggy to tell them they shouldn't do it? No way! Respecting how a mother is raising her child is basic savoir-vivre.

I fell tired of justifying myself to ignorant people and lousy health visitors. Besides, Simon was carried in a pocket carry with only his feet (in sheepskin booties) and his head (covered with wool balaclava) poking out. There is no way he was cold. 

Don't mess with mothers!